Not even our skies are immune to a hack attack. According to one US government watchdog organization, our air traffic controllers are vulnerable to a major hacking that could spell catastrophe.
There is a 42 page document called Information Security: FAA Needs to Address Weakness in Air Traffic Control Systems. This document states there are problems with air the Federal Aviation Administration’s cyber security that could hinder safety in our skies. While certain actions have decreased vulnerabilities somewhat, more needs to be done to toughen the cyber barrier between their computer systems and hackers. The document says controls for protecting system boundaries, sensitive data encrypt, and monitoring FAA operations are weak, especially when it comes to preventing unauthorized access to the air traffic control system. This scathing report says FAA security systems don’t even meet 2002 requirements, and plans haven’t been updated since 2010. We’ve come a long way technologically since 2002, and even 2010 for that matter. But the report doesn’t just scold the FAA; it gives ways to make it better. It suggests better training, strengthening protocol, better record keeping, and better data monitoring to detect unauthorized access. The FAA has actually responded to the document and vowed to do better job increasing cyber security.
This is a huge, huge eye opener. To think that a hacker with bad intentions could cause a major tie-up with our flights all over the country is chilling. Even more chilling if the flights are already in air if a hack attack starts. How are they going to land or find a place to land? ?The FAA needs to incorporate these suggestions…yesterday! I don’t report on this to scare anybody. But there is strength in numbers. If more of us write to political leaders and government and insists the FAA do all they can to keep us safe, I think they will get the message. Millions of people take to the skies every day. Why wake for tragedy to strike before addressing this potential threat?